The milky grey fog swallowed the valley and the town of Bright Falls that inhabit it. Even as the winter sun rose, the fog refused to retreat from the pine cladded hills that towered over the river that ran through the town. Twenty three minutes North of the isolated Washington State town, The 4WD slowly made its way along the dirt road. The snow from the previous night had painted the fields white. The vehicle stopped a hundred metres from the abandon log hut nestled alongside the river and the edge of the State park. Sheriff Chuck Hooper exited his Ute and walked the last hundred meters to the dozen State and Local Police officers, medical examiners, and forensic specialists that were milling around the wooden hut. He tipped his hand silently to the Deputy who was directing the organised chaos.
Hooper stepped into the hut. Many a time he had come down in the Summer to shoo away a group of partying teens or to break up some college age mid-summer break celebration. Now the hut was quiet, dim and cold. The body lay there dead on the floor, with her blood decorating the wooden floor boards around her.
* * *
'Sheriff Chuck Hooper from the Bright Falls County Sheriff’s Office at this morning Press Conference is appealing to the public for any information on the body that was found at O’Grady’s hut three days ago...'
The radio crackled on in the background as Rowan leaned back in the passenger seat with his feet up on the dashboard and his eyes closed. The long straight stretch with pine tree on either side always felt like a drag. He liked hitching a ride in trucks. The cabs always had room for his 6”5 frame, and the truckies never seem to care for his feet on their dashboards.
'The victim was a women in her early thirties with no apparent ties to the Bright Falls County..'
“Nasty business that is ain’t it?” Rowan’s ride remarked breaking him from is slumber.
“What is?”
“The murder,” the truckie replied motioning to the radio.
Rowan grunted in agreement, keeping his eyes closed.
“So what brings you to back to Bright Fall?” The driver asked.
“Business.”
“Ya don’t look like no businessman”
Rowan smiled at the truck drivers response.
“I swear you weren’t that bloody nosy three years ago.”
It had been close to three years since he had left the town of Bright Waters. After his Mother had passed on, there wasn’t anything worth staying for. As his friends moved onto college or apprenticeships, starting families on their own, the town wasn’t the same when High School ended.
“You coulda visited your old man. He still talks about ya.”
“As I said Carl, you’re a nosy bastard.”
The driver laughed as the truck entered the town. Nothing had changed since he had left. The same buildings stood, the same signs and even the same people walking the cold winter streets.
“You want me to drop ya off at your old man's?”
“The centre of town will do Carl.”
“You sure?”
Rowan smiled and slapped the older man on the back.
“I missed you Carl. Thanks for picking me up.”
Rowan remained quiet as the truck slowly came to a halt. He thanked Carl again, grabbing his small duffel bag and jumped out into the cool Washington winter air.
Hooper stepped into the hut. Many a time he had come down in the Summer to shoo away a group of partying teens or to break up some college age mid-summer break celebration. Now the hut was quiet, dim and cold. The body lay there dead on the floor, with her blood decorating the wooden floor boards around her.
* * *
'Sheriff Chuck Hooper from the Bright Falls County Sheriff’s Office at this morning Press Conference is appealing to the public for any information on the body that was found at O’Grady’s hut three days ago...'
The radio crackled on in the background as Rowan leaned back in the passenger seat with his feet up on the dashboard and his eyes closed. The long straight stretch with pine tree on either side always felt like a drag. He liked hitching a ride in trucks. The cabs always had room for his 6”5 frame, and the truckies never seem to care for his feet on their dashboards.
'The victim was a women in her early thirties with no apparent ties to the Bright Falls County..'
“Nasty business that is ain’t it?” Rowan’s ride remarked breaking him from is slumber.
“What is?”
“The murder,” the truckie replied motioning to the radio.
Rowan grunted in agreement, keeping his eyes closed.
“So what brings you to back to Bright Fall?” The driver asked.
“Business.”
“Ya don’t look like no businessman”
Rowan smiled at the truck drivers response.
“I swear you weren’t that bloody nosy three years ago.”
It had been close to three years since he had left the town of Bright Waters. After his Mother had passed on, there wasn’t anything worth staying for. As his friends moved onto college or apprenticeships, starting families on their own, the town wasn’t the same when High School ended.
“You coulda visited your old man. He still talks about ya.”
“As I said Carl, you’re a nosy bastard.”
The driver laughed as the truck entered the town. Nothing had changed since he had left. The same buildings stood, the same signs and even the same people walking the cold winter streets.
“You want me to drop ya off at your old man's?”
“The centre of town will do Carl.”
“You sure?”
Rowan smiled and slapped the older man on the back.
“I missed you Carl. Thanks for picking me up.”
Rowan remained quiet as the truck slowly came to a halt. He thanked Carl again, grabbing his small duffel bag and jumped out into the cool Washington winter air.